Categories

Meta

Clean, Beautiful Living

Small Miracles: Coconut Oil (But Not the Way You Think)

My posts tend to be rather long (I do ramble on, don’t I?), so in this series of short posts I am going to highlight some of my favorite products that pack a strong punch despite their smaller size.

I did not want to write this post. I first thought of it before I even started the blog, but when the time came, I couldn’t do it. It was just too personal, too intimate, too embarrassing. What changed my mind is that I had two women I love – two women with different lifestyles and different bodies and of different ages and experiences – tell me that what I shared with them changed their lives. This knowledge changed my life as well. In fact, it was the thing that convinced me that green beauty was the way to go, that nature could offer solutions to seemingly unsolvable problems. The crazy thing is that for every article, listicle and post titled “20 Amazing Ways to Use Coconut Oil” and “Miracle Uses for Coconut Oil” and “You Won’t Believe This One Simple Trick Using Coconut Oil”, I never saw a single reference to what I am about to tell you. So I figured what the hell! I need to get over my hangups and spill the beans. And if you are TMI-averse, I would suggest this as the perfect place to stop reading.

It’s no secret that having a child changes a woman’s body in countless ways. One of the less pleasant ways in which my body changed was that I became highly prone to… Well, lady-troubles. You know: the itching, burning, pain, make-you-lose-your-mind-and-unable-to-function-nor-talk-about-it kind of thing. Just buckets of laughs, really. I tried every kind of over-the-counter and prescription option, constantly upping the strength because it hardly worked and when it did, the results never lasted. My problem became chronic. As I neared despair and all, but given up on having a normal sex life, I did what I always do when faced with a problem: I started doing research. I trawled through countless web pages and tried countless miracle cures, to no avail.

I’m not sure what made me try coconut oil. Maybe I saw the suggestion on some random corner of the Internet or maybe I figured it out on my own. After all, coconut oil is soothing, antibacterial,antiviral and antifungal – all things you want when fighting the Beast from Down Under. I will spare you more details, but really, only one thing matters: it worked. The results were not instant (though the relief was immediate, if incomplete), but in just a few days, my symptoms were gone. And they stayed gone. Because I worked with my body and treated it with gentle, thoughtful care, rather than basically nuking it, it healed itself. The couple of times that the problem came back since then (we’re talking 2 or 3 times in about 3 years or so), I went back to coconut oil and the symptoms resolved in a matter of days.

If you want to go with the most luxurious, high quality option that will look beautiful on your bathroom counter (and can be used on your face just as readily as your ladygarden), then you couldn’t do better than Cocovit: a raw, organic oil from coconuts processed at peak freshness without a trace of heat, allowing it to retain all of coconut’s enzymes and nutrients. But even if you decide to get your coconut oil from the grocery store, please make sure to get raw, unheated coconut oil (centrifuge extraction is best).

So there you have it. You now know way more about my personal life than I ever wanted, but if it helps even one of you, this was all worth it.

19 responses to Small Miracles: Coconut Oil (But Not the Way You Think)

I can’t actually tell if this is about UTIs or thrush! I’m guessing the later. If you’re comfortable sharing, it would be really helpful to know how you actually used coconut oil to heal it. Because I’ve never heard of this either. Thank you!

Oh, of course! I mean yeast infection (or thrush)/vaginitis. And there’s no trick to it, really – just slathering the coconut oil on and…. You know… In. You do have to reapply it throughout the day, ideally every time you go to the bathroom. Once I actually brought a jar to work with me! 😳😂

First, I love all these pretty little under garments in this photo. You have great style! Secondly, what a helpful and honest little tip. It seems to me we should be sharing more as women, but for some weird reason many of us are either too embarrassed to share or pretend we’re all goddesses that never get a UTI or menopause, cysts, endometriosis, herpes, etc. (A little dramatic, but you get my drift) We are women and human beings and this is all part of regular life and self care. It’s good to know of natural remedies and it’s good to share these things as ways of taking care of ourselves to feel our best. I applaud you for taking the leap. I mean there isn’t anything new really happening with all the ways there are to incorporate coconut oil into your beauty routine, but this…this is real life. Real life is just as beautiful as Instagram life and we could all use as many easy and natural tips we can.

My tip: Use raw coconut oil under your breasts to prevent yeast infections that also happen there! Especially if you use under wire bras.

Thank you so much for saying this! I love the glamorous, luxurious and frivolous aspects of beauty – hell, it’s why I started the blog – but sometimes we have real problems and real issues and we need to be able to talk about them. I think there is a shift happening in how we are talking about “women’s problems”, like the great way Thinx underwear handled the kerfuffle with the MTA banning their ads. We must be able to talk about our bodies: the beautiful bits and the slightly embarrassing ones, too! Oh, and thank you for the tip! Love it!

….and probiotics ladies!!! 🙂 Sometimes outside itchiness is really soothed with coconut oil. I’m not familiar with the ‘inside’ trick though – how do you do that? With an applicator or……what’s the best way? And how much????

Oh heavens! 😳😂 I mean, I just… Get on up in there? No applicator. 😁 Actually, someone should make coconut oil suppository-type things. I’d buy them! And I’m generally heavy-handed with application of all products, so I use a good amount. Also yes: probiotics are totally crucial!

Hi!
I am curious as to if you apply internally (like with the applicator) or just externally. I also suffer from reoccurring yeast infections so I feel your pain. I always have a box of Monistat at home but I am really excited to read about this alternative.

Just read this article!! I have been singing praises about coconut oil for years. I researched how to save one of my dogs’ life and coconut oil came up. So I continually research the heck out of it! I have a jar in every room. Use it on my kids’ butts still I diapers! Put it on the baby head to toe since birth. I was too scared to do it with my first!! Wish I had!! He had no baby skin issues like my first since I used it on him. On his head it kept him from cradle cap and made his hair grow nice!! I put it on my boobs, belly and lady parts always out of shower. Cook with it. Give it to dogs. It is a great cleanser for the kids poopy butts!! LOVE IT!! Thank you for sharing about this goodness!! More people need to know! ❤️💚😘

I am soooooo glad I read this! I have been struggling on and off since I was a teenager. I had it under control for a few year and SURPRISE it’s back. I have bought over the counter treatments and even had to get prescriptions too. I HATE USING TOXIC CHEMICALS, but I didn’t know what else to do.
FYI tea tree oil BURNS but does take away the itch…. I guess because you can’t feel it over the burn sensation lol.
Anyhow I also heard oil of oregano in water helps when taken orally.
I am going up stairs right now to coconut myself.
Here’s to hoping this works and having more sex….. YEAH
Thank you for writing this!!!!!!!

thank you for sharing! great to know, people get UTIs and then go on to have problems with chronic problems with thrush due to antibiotics, definitely an interesting suggestion. BTW new to your blog and I LOVE it (being in pharmacy school, loving all things green beauty and skincare)! you have a unique, educated voice!